The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-05-26

City Journal Of Commerce; and last
but not least, city editor the St. Louis
DfsbafcA.'
ado you like writing1'
81 cannot say that . particularly
enjoy it, except at rare intervals. MY
| work has invariably been done under
contract, SO that | have not been per-
mitted to consult disposition, but been
compelled to work regardless of incli-
nation. My income, however, which
is about $4,000, per annum, l de-
cidedly enjoy"
"What is your age?"
"My present age is 81 years and this
city my home, where | expect to re-
side permanently, having lived here
since March 1873. All the money l
make out of my books, invest in real
estate"
"And which of your books do you
like the best?'
81 hardly know how to answer you
Well, yes, l like the least successful
one, Russian Nihilism and Exile Life
in Siberia.'
"How could you obtain all these
facts, when it is extremely difficult for
foreigner to gain access to the coun-
try and different departments of the
Russian government, as to obtain the
necessary reliable knowledge to write
such a book ?" l asked.
81 experienced not the least of
| trouble. | travelled through Russia and
Siberia in 1882, armed with letters of
introduction from the Department Of
State at Washington, and through this
and the personal services of Minister
Hunt at St. Petersburg, had the good
fortune to be introduced to the nobil-
ity of Russia. | met with a hearty re-
ceptiou wherever l came, and have
been protected through all parts of
that country"
"Have you any future literary in
tentiens ?"
"Well, yes, I am under contract to
write two large subscription books,
the titles of which ! prefer not to make
known for the reason that four of
my last and most successful books
have been pirated by eastern publish
ers. This much | will say, however,
that one, the manuscript of which |
now have nearly ready, is of a reli-
gious character, and the other being
historical.
"Before me lies a most unique vol
ume, containing notes of travel through
England, France, Belgium, Germany,
Switzerland, Italy and Greece, under
the title, Europe Through American
Eeyes," by A. S. Zerbe, Professor at
Heidelberg College, of Tifin, Ohio.
Works of this kind are rarely met up
with; the information which they i'm
part in regard to the countries above
named is indispensable. The book
abounds in interest from beginning to
end, and is bound to become a stand
ard work. In the "Preface" the au-
thor has this to say: "Upon under
taking tour of Europe it was not my
purpose to write book. kept, how
ever, an extensive journal; took copi-
Gus notes on the spot, or at the close
of each days observation and expert
ence, and sent home for publication IN
various newspapers and periodicals,
some thirty letters written here and
there, as opportunity offered. From
these sources, as we'll as from a long
preparation for the contemplated tour,
| have collected the material for the
book.
"Ilay no claim for ambitious writing,
or absolute originality of matter or
genius OF arrangement. In view of the
fact that the huge catalogue of the
travellers library already rivals the
Roman and Alexandrian collections,
it is venturesome to attempt to treat
the theme on an entirely new princi-
pie. Accordingly the following chap
tiers contain merely plain, "unvar-
nished tale" of my adventures and a
simple description of the objects and
places coming under my notice. That
thousands of others have seen and de-
sCrlbed the same or similar things, has
not deferred me from writing, for,
while, as in the changing forms of a
kaleidoscope view, certain colors are
ever recurring, no two individuals are
at all likely to see the same figures
and combinations, though all see the
same elements out of which the end
less variety IS formed.
"lf any one should wonder that SO
much can be seen in such a compare
lively limited time, let him remember
that steam has annihilated distance in
the old world, as we'll as IN the new,
and that the European facilities for
travel and sightseeing are in some
respects far superior, to our own. Al
traveller who systematizes his time can
accomplish as much now in four
months, as he could in twelve, thirty
years ago"
Mrs. Margaret ]. Preston will con-
tribute to Li3pineott's for June s.Some
Records Of Philip Bourke Marston,'